Michelle Pellay-Walker, a native Memphian, is currently Assistant Principal Violist of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and an Adjunct Instructor at Southwest Tennessee Community College. Other positions she has held include Principal Violist of the Missouri Chamber Orchestra, and Principal Violist of the Tennessee Summer Symphony. She has also served as Acting Principal Violist of the Savannah Symphony Orchestra, and as Acting Principal Violist of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra.

She is a graduate of Southwestern at Memphis (BM 1980) and the University of Illinois (MM 1983). Her primary university instructors were John Wehlan and Guillermo Perich. Other major instructors included Marcia Ferrito, David Becker, Colin Kitching, and Ruth Morrow.

She has appeared as featured soloist with the Tennessee Summer Symphony, the Baroque and Classical Chamber Orchestra of Memphis, the Dyersburg College Community Orchestra, the Camerata String Ensemble of Jackson, Tennessee, and the Germantown Symphony Orchestra.